Finding healthy snacks that can truly replace the savory and salty cravings I get has been no easy task. While I love having something sweet every now and then, chips (or anything salty, really) have definitely always been my weakness.
When I came across a recipe from @realfoodlab on Instagram for dehydrated kale chips, I figured it was about time I bust out my dehydrator (this is the one I have and I love it. The auto shut off is a lifesaver for recipes like this that take several hours and the 6 racks fit a ton) and put it to good use! I’ve made kale chips many times before, but always in an oven, so they were never quite the same as the delicious ones you can buy in the health food aisle for the small price of an arm and a leg. Lucky for me, dehydrated kale chips are SO good and SO easy to make, so I never have to fork over all that cash for store-bought kale chips again!
- 3-4 bunches of curly green kale
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1/2 c nutritional yeast
- 1/4 c melted coconut oil
- 1 c raw, unsalted cashews
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Thoroughly wash kale and tear it up into chip sized pieces (I recommend letting it dry before applying seasoning as well)
- Blend all ingredients in food processor or blender
- Pour over bowl of torn up kale
- Massage into kale well (don’t be afraid to really get in there!)
- Place kale into your dehydrator in a mostly single layer (3-4 bunches takes up all 6 trays for me)
- Dehydrate at 105F for approx 10 hrs (check texture around 8 hours if you can)
A couple things to note:
- I have tried making these with both purple and green kale, and have found green kale to come out with a nicer texture.
- Start checking your kale chips around 8 hours (if you’re not making these overnight and are able to). They’re not going to dehydrate into kale dust at 10 hours, but dehydration time has varied a little bit for me with different batches.
- These don’t usually last longer than a couple days in my house because they’re that good, but they have kept fine in a tupperware container before for 5ish days. I’m not sure how long they’d stay good for beyond that.
These are honestly one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten in my life. Even Cole mows them down like they’re going out of style! They are the most perfectly crispy texture (that never tastes bitter or burnt, which can happen so easily when you bake kale chips), and the seasoning- though it may seem like an odd combo of ingredients- is to die for.
You have to try these for yourself!
Natalie says
Yuummm! I’ve only tried making kale chips once so I’ll have to try again using your recipe!
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Chelsea says
They’re soooooo good- highly, highly recommend trying this recipe. It sounds weird, but it’s AMAZING!
Sara says
Looking so healthy & yummy !!
I like the ingredients that you used in preparation of these Kale chips. I will definitely give it a try. Let me have some kale chips now :)
Chelsea says
They are definitely both healthy and yummy! I’ve made them so many times in the past month, I can’t get enough! :)
Kelly Donlin says
This looks and sounds incredible, yum!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Chelsea says
Seriously, they are SO good. You have to try them!
Huong says
Girl, I needed this recipe like last year! You should’ve seen the super salty chips I ended up making, lol!!! #TrialAndError
Chelsea says
Hahahah, I did the exact same thing the first time I made them. I was like hey, I like salt…. and then they ended up being super bitter cause I baked them too long and they were SO salty. You live you learn ;)
Christa @perilouslypale says
Ohhh dehydrated would be so much better than killed in the oven! I’m going to have to look into a dehydrator. Thanks for the great recipe!
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Jennifer Smith says
hi, Chelsea,
great idea about these chips, ‘cos my children really don’t like all the healthy green food until it’s in the form of junk food :)
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